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Aerial Lift Bridge, Duluth, MN

Photo: Mfield , Matthew Field, http://www.photography.mattfield.com, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicFreeHistory Buff

Aerial Lift Bridge

S Lake Ave over the Duluth Ship Canal, Canal Park · Duluth, MN

Why you should go…

The Aerial Lift Bridge carries Lake Avenue across the Duluth Ship Canal, linking Canal Park with Park Point. It began in 1905 as the country's first transporter bridge and was converted to a vertical lift bridge in 1929 and 1930, and today its span rises the full 135 feet in about a minute. You can watch ships pass beneath it from the canal pier, and the free Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center beside the canal explains the bridge and Great Lakes shipping.

  • #lift bridge
  • #ship watching
  • #landmark
  • #lake superior

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Aerial Lift Bridge, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Free

    Canal Park

    Free

    Stroll the Lakewalk, watch ships pass the lighthouse pier, and browse shops and restaurants in old Duluth warehouses.

    Right next doorMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Adventure Zone Duluth

    Under $25

    An indoor family entertainment venue in Duluth's Canal Park, part of the Grandma's Restaurant Company family.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Great Lakes Aquarium

    Under $25

    A freshwater aquarium on Duluth's harbor featuring over 250 species from the Great Lakes region.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Tours
    Family Favorite

    North Shore Scenic Railroad

    $25–$50

    Heritage train excursions along Lake Superior between Duluth and Two Harbors, Minnesota.

    0.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Outdoor Adventure

    Hayward

    Free

    A Wisconsin Northwoods lake town known for fishing, forests, and the Hayward Lakes chain.

    60 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Outdoor Adventure

    Washburn County

    Free

    A Wisconsin Northwoods county of lakes and forest anchored by Shell Lake and Spooner.

    68 mi awayMore like this